Wrench



Nov. 5, 1929. G, LA ON 1,734,734

WRENCH Filed Dec. 10, 1926 Y r M ATTORNEYS 292 zyu fWbg/ENTER Patented Nov. 5, 1929 eorrrrmn c. Lawson,

or CLEVELAND, onto WRENCH Application filed December 10, 1925'.- Serial no. 153,778..

This invention relates to wrenches and more particularly to wrenches of a type in which one jaw may be moved angularly relative the other, such as are used for gripping pipes and other round objects.

Many pipe wrenches have been produced 1n which the jaws were held towards each other by springs and other resilient means. While wrenches of this type would grip the pipe, 1t

19. was awkward to release them as the jaws tended to remain in their closest position due to the pressure of the spring.

It has also been suggested to provide a pipe wrench in which the jaws were held in an in- ,termediate position by springs so that they could be moved closer toward each other in' order to grip the pipe tightly and could be moved away from each other. to release the same readily. Wrenches were therefore pro- I vided with two springs but were elaborate and complicated in construction.

I have provided a wrench which is simple in construction, consisting of only four parts, in which the parts are strong, durable, easlly made and assembled, and efficiently grip pipes and other round objects and readily release the same.

The invention will be better understood from the description of one practical embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a wrench enibodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the wrench of Fig. 1, with the parts shown in longitudinal section on the line 11-11 of Flg. 3, and

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line III- III of Fig. 2.

The wrench comprises a frame terminating in a handle 1 and a jaw 2, both integral therewith. An adjustable jaw 3 has an integral shank 4 extending through a. longitudinally extending aperture 5 in the frame. This shank, and by it the jaw 3, is held in an intermediate angular position relative to the stationary jaw 2 by means of a spring 6, which will be more fully hereinafter described. The shank 4: is threaded as indicated and upon this 50, is threaded an adjusting nut 7 fitting in an apertur 8, extending transver ly th w the frame.

The opening 8 1s somewhat larger than the nut and tapers toward the front ofthe wrench to permit the nut to move upon tilting of the 55 a e jew- At th ar of hepenin t e frame widens abruptly to form stops orshoufl: ders 9 and 10. Spring -.6 consistsoftwo rela tively narrow ends 11 ma e which'bear upon the shank 4 above and below respectively, the co nut 7 being enclosed within the longitudinal opening 5, beyond its intersection lwith the transverse opening 8. The centralportionof the spring between these ends offset toward the rear ,of the wrench to clear the nut f7 and Q5 bear against the frame near the middle of l the rear wall of the aperture ,8. integral pro ectlons 1,3 are provided on the spring and project outwardly within apenture 8 im;

mediately behind shoulders 9 and 10,. A will 7,9

readily be seen, if the jaw ,3 is moved to the leftas shown in the drawing, the upper pro ject'ions 13 will seat uponshoulders I9, render mg the upperend of thespri g inefiective .to

bear upon the shank 4 while the end 12 of 5, p

the spring-will bear upon the shank tending to return this and the jaw to the normal or neutral position shown in Figs; 11 and 2. Conversely, if thej aw is moved to the right as shown in the drawing, the lower projections 89. 13 will seat upon shoulders 10, rendering the lower end oft-he spring ineffective for bearing. upon the shank and projectingend 11 will bear upon the shank,tending to rotate the jaw to the left to its normal position. The spring .5 6 can be conveniently formed from a single piece of sheet metal and is retained in place by thesides of the aperture withoutthe necessity of any other securing means.

It will thus be seen that I have provided 9.9 a very strong and simple wrench, in which the aws ,are maintained in a neutnalangular position 7 by a single spring, so that while they will readily and effectively grip :a round ob ect upon moving toward each other, they are readily released-therefrom upon moving away from each other and are impelled by the spring to return from any displacement in either direction to neutral position.

Wh11e I have described the illustrated m wrench in some particularity, this embodi ture, a movable jaw having a threaded shank extending into the longitudinal aperture and longitudinally and angularly movable therein, an adjusting nut threaded on said shank and extending through the transverse aperture, a spring bearing at its ends upon the shank above and below the nut and atits center upon the frame and normally holding the shank in an intermediate angular position in the frame, and stops carried by the frame and engageable by the spring adjacent its ends to prevent one endor the other from contacting the shank when it is moved angularly relative the frame. f V

2. A wrench having a frame provided with a stationary jaw, there being a longitudinal aperture'through the frame, and a transverse aperture intersecting sald longitudinal aperture, a movable aw having a threaded shank extending into the longitudinal aperture and longitudinally and angularly movable therein, an adjusting nutthreaded on said shank and extending through the transverse aper- ,ture, a spring bearing at its ends ,upon the shank above and 'below the nut and at its .center upon the frame and normally holding the shankin an intermediate angular posltion in'the frame, and stops carried by the frame and engageable by the spring adjacent its ends to prevent one end or the other from contacting the shank when it is moved angu- 'larlyrelative the frame and fulcrumed intermediate its ends upon the frame and means associated with the frame to effect the retention of the spring.

3. A wrench having a frame provided-with a stationary jaw, there being a longitudinal aperture through the frame, and a transverse aperture intersecting said longitudinal aperture, a movable jaw having a threaded shank extending into the longitudinal aperture and longitudinally and angularly movable therein, an adjusting nut threaded on said shank and extending through the transverse aperture, a spring bearing at its ends upon the shank above and below the nut and at its center upon the frame, integral projections in the spring engageable with'the walls of the frame adjacent the longitudinal operation and stops'carried by the frame and engageable by the spring adjacent its ends to prevent one end or the other from contacting the shank when it is moved angularly relative the frame.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 7th day of December, 1926.

GOTTFRID C. LAWSON. 

